ATNF Director’s Response
ATUC meeting May 2009
ATUC Recommendations / Director’s Response / Traffic light (May09) / Progress (Oct 09) / Status (Oct 09)Commendations and successes
- ATUC congratulates the ATNF on the delivery, installation and early science demonstrated with CABB.
- ATUC is pleased to pass on praise from an ATNF summer student who thought it a “very useful practice” to make the students submit an observing proposal.
- ATUC is delighted to see the provision of an ASAP quick-look reduction GUI provided by Cormac Purcell, and looks forward to seeing this GUI available from the ATNF Mopra website.
- ATUC appreciates the support provided by the ATNF to the 2009 AstroInformatics School
Matters arising from October 2008 ATUC Report
- L/S and C/X upgrade: ATUC is pleased to see ATNF devoting resources towards the completion of the CABB L/S upgrade on the ATCA. ATUC recognises the niche that a complete L/S- and C/X-capable ATCA will provide, which will not be supplanted by ASKAP or ALMA. Therefore ATUC strongly recommends the ATNF look to allocate resources to ensure the full completion of the CABB project, including the C/X upgrade.
Phase 2: A spare L/S receiver from Narrabri is in the Marsfield labs and is being fitted with wideband amplifiers. It is anticipated the receiver will return to Narrabri for installation and testing starting the first week of November. This is a prototype and success with it will lead to a production run of the necessary components to outfit the rest of the array.
Phase 3: the CX upgrade remains a possible future project. / Ongoing (L/S)
Stalled (CX)
- TAC:ATUC welcomes initiatives to reduce the workload on TAC members. ATUC suggests that as well as at least one expert, one non-expert be allocated to each proposal to provide a more impartial view. ATUC would appreciate a report on the effectiveness of the TAC changes after two observing semesters
A report will be provided to ATUC. / Green / The new approach to reviewing proposals that involves receiving input from external readers and assigning proposals on the basis of science keywords was first used for the 2009 OCTS. The TAC members greatly appreciated having a smaller number of proposals to review and found the new OPAL tools for submitting and using reports easy to use. The proposal assignments scheme worked well although some refinements will be added to the algorithm. A more detailed report, including some feedback from proposers, will be provided after 2010 APRS TAC process. / ongoing
- ATUC again notes the absence of an international representative on the users committee
- Standing wave on Mopra: Regarding the cycling of the Mopra sub-reflector as a way to mitigate standing waves, ATUC is aware Phil Edwards has contacted Andrew Walsh to help perform tests this semester. ATUC looks forward to receiving a report on this at the next ATUC meeting
- Pulsar software: Regarding the support of the suite of pulsar software, ATUC requests that the ATNF update the Pulsar webpages to reflect George Hobbs as the official contact person. ATUC notes that Pulsar software (such as TEMPO2) are not listed on the official list of ATNF supported software:
The pulsar group webpages are being re-made and will be updated to reflect George Hobbs as being the official contact person for pulsar software. / complete
- Fast mapping with Mopra: ATUC strongly encourages ATNF to trial fast mapping with Mopra. ATUC looks forward to seeing a report on the progress of this much wanted and anticipated feature at the next ATUC meeting
- WVRs: ATUC notes the recent update on the WVR project provided by Michael Burton and is pleased to see that project is currently on track.
ATUC Recommendations
General
- Travel costs to the observatories: The increasing cost of travel is a concern to users. While observers are still required to travel to the observatories (which some love to do!), ATUC would like ATNF to consider a travel support scheme, perhaps similar to the AAO model.
- CABB calibration: ATUC understands that reduction techniques and calibration of CABB data are still in the early stages and that appropriate philosophies will be developed in time. However, there are several issues arising from the CABB Science day which ATUC would like the ATNF to investigate. The issue of bandpass instability over time (c.f. Bjorn Emonts presentation) and the apparent factor of two differences seen in 7mm flux observations of Uranus and 1934-638 (c.f. Maxim Voronkov presentation) are a concern to users. ATUC requests a presentation at the next meeting which addresses the issues of flux density calibration accuracy, bandpass stability and updates of the MIRIAD data reduction guide for the 'CABB era'.
The flux of 1934-638 across the 7mm band is being measured against Uranus, and the model spectrum of that source will be changed to reflect those measurements. Observers should use Uranus for flux calibration at 7mm whenever possible. For secondary calibration at 3 and 7-mm, Observatory staff will calibrate a number of bright AGN, spread over the full range of R.A., against Uranus at the standard continuum observing frequencies throughout the semester. / Green / Mark Wieringa has implemented the means to interpolate bandpass corrections. Bjorn Emonts is helping to test this feature.
On the question of flux difference, the initial model in ‘miriad’ was an inaccurate extrapolation but now we have an accurate model for 1934-638 and this has been added to ‘miriad’. / ongoing
- mm calibrators: ATUC notes that some users have concerns about the quality of millimetre calibration data taken as part of C007 and C2050. At present, the reduction and quality assurance is done by Katherine Newton-McGee on a one day/fortnight basis with additional effort from the new Narrabri Systems Scientist, Jamie Stevens. ATUC would like Jamie Stevens or Phil Edwards to give a presentation about the mm calibrator project and its integration into the online database at the next meeting.
A report on this work will be given at the next ATUC meeting. / Green / Katherine Newton McGee is no longer actively involved in the work, and
Jamie Steven’s has taken over carriage of C007 and C2050. C2050 is monitoring a handful of sources to assess their suitability as (primarily) 3mm primary flux density calibrators. After C2050 has carefully characterised these sources at multiple epochs and in a number of different array configurations, these sources will be included in the ongoing C007 program. / ongoing
- Tsys values and sensitivity calculator: Users have commented the system temperatures stored with the visibilities at 1.4 and 2.3 GHz are significantly higher than those assumed by the online sensitivity calculator. In particular at S band the Tsys values are a lot higher than predicted (around 40%). Users have raised concerns they are not able to deliver on statements made in proposals and to make up for the lower sensitivity of the array they have to spend twice as much time on source. ATUC notes these observations were pre-CABB, and ATUC looks forward to seeing updated values of Tsys in the post-CABB era as soon as possible.
It should be noted that the sensitivity calculator is always likely to give an optimistic view; it does not account for unflagged RFI, confusion, and possibly other effects on real observations. / Green / Significant progress is expected on this issue in October-November 2009. / ongoing
- ATCA remote observing: With the change from SSH to VNC for ATCA remote observing, ATUC notes that the “Guide to Remote Observing with the ATCA” webpage ( needs updating.
In future, the Guide to Remote Observing will be incorporated in the new edition of the ATCA Users Guide. / Green / Robin Wark has updated this on the web, as this is the most useful place for remote observers. It will be included in the hardcopy of the users guide by the next ATUC meeting.
[PGE] / done
Mopra
- Characterisation of Mopra: ATUC notes that some users have expressed concerns about the variability of Mopra and the lack of on-going characterisation. For example, users are seeing variations in the telescope gain as the central frequency is changed and as the elevation changes. Through these variations users are expressing concern on other vital parameters, such as beam efficiency and flux calibration, beam size and pointing calibrators. ATUC notes the last formal investigation of these parameters in the 86-115GHz range was undertaken by Ladd et al. 2005 (PASA, v22, p62-72), to which current 3mm publications still refer. ATUC recommends the ATNF look to schedule a pre-season program which looks to characterise the Mopra 3-, 7-, and 12-mm systems, and report results via the Mopra website.
Parkes
- Safety induction: ATUC notes some users feel the Parkes safety induction is too long, such that the last 20-30 minutes may be falling on deaf ears. Given that Narrabri and Mopra observers perform their safety induction online, ATUC suggests that the ATNF consider a shorter online safety induction for Parkes observers as well.
- Bikes at Parkes: ATUC notes the bike situation at Parkes is getting quite dire. Apparently there is only one fully functioning bike, with a secondsemi-functional bike (green metallic) becoming increasingly difficult to ride and occasionally dangerous. ATUC is also aware that people are now required to wear bike helmets when riding at the sites and would appreciate this be relayed to users as soon as possible.
- Taxi service: ATUC notes observers were surprised to learn at the time of booking accommodation that travel from the Parkes airport to the observatory is now via taxi. ATUC suggests that changes of procedure be formally communicated to users as a matter of courtesy, especially if it will affect them financially.
- 13mm receiver calibration: ATUC understands that users from the APR08 semester were concerned by the lack of calibration information for the new 13mm receiver. ATUC notes time has been allocated in early July to finalize commissioning of the 13mm receiver and strongly urges the ATNF to place this information online as soon as it becomes available.
A new characterisation of the 13mm receiver will be made in June; data from these measurements will be made available to users. / Green / A characterisation of the 13mm receiver was done in June; data from these measurements have been made available to users. Time has been set aside in March 2010 when the receiver is scheduled to be used to allow for more checks should they be needed. / ongoing
- Parkes Receiver Fleet.
b.Mars S/X: ATUC notes there are plans to modify the existing conversion system of the Mars receiver to allow direct input into the Parkes Conversion System. ATUC would like clarification on whether this work will coincide with the proposed upgrading of the Mars receiver to a dual S/X package or will the modification of the Mars conversion system take priority. ATUC also seeks clarification on whether the X-band capabilities of the AT-Multiband will be made available to users when the S/X merge occurs. / a. The “upbanding” of the 50cm receiver will proceed in June/July. The LNAs are to be returned to Marsfield after they have been removed on June 10. They will be upbanded (and 10cm receiver LNAs repaired through retrofitting of new components to replace faulty units) and returned for installation prior to the receiver installation in late July.
b. The detailed sequence of changes to the receivers is still the subject of project planning. Plans will be available by 22 July.
The AT-multiband receiver will be decommissioned. The performance of the 3cm band in the Mars receiver (to become a dual 13/3 cm receiver) exceeds that of the AT-multiband in both sensitivity and bandwidth. / Green
Green / The 50cm amplifiers have upbanded and the 10 cm amplifiers refurbished. Dick Manchester reports that though further testing is required it is already clear that the change of the 50cm band to 40cm has been very successful.
Plans for the receiver changes are still underway and an update will be given at the October ATUC meeting.
The Parkes multiband receiver has been restored to dual polarisation. Brett Armstrong and Narrabri staff were able to repair an amplifier. / Done
Ongoing
Done
- Parkes Users Guide: ATUC notes the Parkes User's Guide contains detailed information on how to operate the telescope, but that there is not enough information for first-time observers planning new observations. There are no receiver block diagrams, no signal path information, no useful correlator information and no descriptions of the final data product and the RPFITS format. ATUC suggests that the Users Guide be updated.